HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1949-04-22, Page 2P„
Sybil
eLeap, Editor.
Published at Seaforth, Ontario, ev-
ry
Thursday. ` afternoon by McLean
ros..
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Weekly Newspapers
Association.
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Post Office Department, Ottawa
SEAFORTH, Friday, April 22, 1949.
Time For Action
An increasing number of munici-
palities are becoming aware of the
cost involved in permitting indis-
criminate building within their boun-
daries and are taking steps to intro-
duce necessary controls. One of the
most recent cases is Orillia, where,
according to a news story, a full-time
building inspector has been appoint-
ed.
To meet the increased costs of
administering the by-law, Orillia
council has increased building per-
mit fees to one-half of one per cent
of the cost of a building up to the
first $50,000, and one-quarter of one
per cent after that amount. The new
_by-law and inspector will fit in with
the recently appointed Orillia Plan-
ning Board, which will prepare an
official town plan and a restricted
.area by-law for Orillia.
In Newmarke , oo, there is a move
to establish prop building stand-
ards. The Era -E - ress of that town
states the proble:
"The need for the regulation of
construction within Newmarket was
strongly emphasized in the report of
the assessors. It might seem an im-
position of authority without cause
to those citizens accustomed to build
as they wish on their own property
and believing they possess the skill
to do so. However, the assessors
found instances where, through lack
of skilled supervision, construction
was unsafe and represents a con-
tinuing threat to the safety of those
in the building. -
"This condition has often been re -
narked upon but without leading to
any action to prevent its repetition.
Perhaps, the recommendation of the
assessors will have some effect. With
a town engineer to police construc-
tion, there is no reason why con-
struction work shouldn't be licensed
and inspected, to the subsequent pub-
lic safety."
In Seaforth the same situation ex-
ists. While there is a so-called build-
ing by-law, its provisions are such as
to be not much more than a nuisance
to a prospective builder. Too, the
by-law places council in the embar-
rassing position of being asked to
concur in construction of which it
(las no knowledge and which fre-
quently is already under way.
A properly conceived building by-
law, properly enforced, should go
hand in hand with a zoning by-law
and a town plan. The latter ensures
that the type of construction is
sound and provides assurance that
normal fire and safety precautions
have been taken. The zoning by-law,
in conjunction with a town plan,
makes certain that construction is
not proceeded with at the whim of
the builder without consideration
having been given to the welfare of
the citizens as a whole. How -fre-
• 'quently is it the case where, because
of the cheapness of the land or the
presence of a structure, a citizen de-
cides to create a residence. That is
za11 right as far as it goes, for only
one person is concerned. But when
the provision of services — water,
light, sidewalks and drains—arises,
the problem not only becomes com-
mon to all, but costs every citizen
money. The location may be, and most
often is, such as to discourage other
(similar construction. The result then
is that the municipality is called on to
extend services to a point where it
is unlikely that potential revenue
Trona. such extensions can ever lusti-
ly the cost.
aweirer,where a proper town
lab, supported by necessary build -
.,..'ILL en,1, `4 y' L ' 'S are In elf : effect, thi situa-'
,mss roti arrive, Areas most
residential construction are
reserved for that purpose; similarly,
semi -industrial, industrial and com-
mercial areas are defined. A citizen
has reasonable assurance that his
property is not going to be depreci-
ated overnight because someone
thinks he or she can make a killing
by erecting a shanty or barn next
door. At ,the same time, the munici-
pality is protected through what
would then become an orderly exten-
sion of services.
Seaforth shortly will be faced with
a number of major decisions, each of
which should be considered in con-
junction with the others. There is
the matter of rebuilding or extend-
ing pavements, enlarging the capac-
ity of the drainage system, the con-
version to 60 cycle, a new public
school—to name but a few. How
much better and less costly it would
be in the years to come were these
decisions arrived at based on a posi-
tive plan, in which building trends in
the various areas of the town were
known in advance.
0
Garbage Collection Costs
Since •Seaforth Council, at its last
meeting, once more considered the
establishing .of a garbage collection
system in town, and appointed a
committee to further investigate the
matter, statistics revealed by the
Daily Commercial News will be of
interest.
"In 74 Canadian municipalities,
average per capita cost was shown
to be $1.05 per annum in centres with
a population of less than 10,000, and
$1.51 per annum in municipalities of
over 10,000 population.
Smiths Falls has one of the lowest
rates in Ontario -67 cents. This com-
pares with 86 cents in Brockville, 96
in Cornwall, $1.95 in Kingston, $1.47
in Belleville, and $1.53 in Hamilton.
"Toronto and Ottawa head the list
with costs of $2.52 and $2.00 respec-
tively."
0
Will To Live
There is probably no member of
the barnyard family more frequent-
ly abused in conversation than the
pig. While not necessarily regarded
as polite -conversation, we must ad-
mit the expressions, "you're a pig" or
"dirty as a pig," to suggest but two,
are quite common.
Yet if somebody calls you a pig,
don't get excited. You are probably
being singled out as a person of great
stamina and endurance. Or so it
would seem as the result of two oc-
currences during recent weeks in
which the humble porker has been
thrust into the limelight by virtue of
his will to live. Let the Winnipeg
Free Press tell the stories:
"The first is the famous Poland
China sow that confounded all the
experts by living through the Bikini
bomb blast of June 30, 1946. She was
one of a number of animals which
for research purposes were placed
aboard a condemned Japanese cruis-
er to be sunk by the explosion.
"She was tagged with her number,
No. 311, and placed in a washroom
on the main deck. The ship was near
the centre of the explosion and when
it wasover the natural assumption
was that no living thing could have'
survived. But to their amazement,
the rescue crews found her blithely
swimming around in the dangerous
radio -active waters several hours af-
ter the ship had sunk.
"Even though she was still alive,
it was felt that she would- die from
radiation. But she fooled them again.
She was brought to the American
navy's medical research institute
near Bethesda, Md., in September
and within a month all noticeable ef-
fects of her radiation had disappear-
ed.
"The other hog to break into the
news in the last few days will never
be as famous as No. 311, but in her
quiet way she performed a feat of
endurance just as noteworthy. She
was buried in a snowbank on a farm
in South Dakota, Jan. 2, during the
series of wild blizzards that killed
thousands of head of cattle in that
area. But where the cattle died in
short order, this old sow rose to the
challenge.
"She was little more than skin and
bones when the farmer dug her out
early this month, but she was still
alive; and she had strength enough
to walk to a feed trough three-quar-
ters of a mile away."
P fL . OSIFER of
LAZY
MEADOWS
I was driving hoarse free the vil-
lage the other day. There'was a
new warmth in the at* and at look-
ed as if Spring had really' Qom° to
stay. People working.in their gar -
dons or taking off »term windows
waved in a friendly way., The min-
ister of the Presbyterian Church
was painting the whit,$ • picket
feuce around his property,, There
were some children daW`>ling un
the sidewalk in front of the bl,ack-
smith shop.
I turned the bend. and started;
out to the Concession. Old Peter'
Harkness was out in his garden'
and he waved to me. Some strange
impulse made me stop and go in
and see him. In his garden, yel-
low and purple flowers, which I
later learned' were erocusses, add •
-
ed a touch of color.. He wee at
work on a border of yellow daffo-
dils.
"I'm glad you dropped in," the
old man smiled. "Sitting down on
the wheelbarrow; just a little while
ago I realized that I was tired.
Now, when you're as old as I am,
you want au excuse to sit down and
rest• or else people will really
catch on to the fact that time is
catching up with you."
Peter is a man with a deep phil-
osophy. Professor at a college in
the city for many years,' he retir-
e.i finally to the village. As lie
says himself, "The only reason 1•m
stip alive is because when I quit
working I made a small wager
with a friend of mine that I could
live as long as he could. We're
both so stubborn that we hang on
living just so's we won't have to
give in to each other.. That's wliy
By Harry J., Boyle
I'm happy when the Spring comes
mound. If I can hang on during
the winter, I'pa certain to be able
to hang on for the spring and sum-
mer!" •
Peter was in a talkative mood
and he answered .sty stock gees
tion about his health by saying:
"I'm fine now. Frankly, I don't
know how anybody could be any-
thing except fine when we 'have I
weather such as we have now.
When the last days of winter come
along I find myself getting depress-
ed and gray about the whole thing.
I get tired of reading, and every-
body I talk to seems to have the
blues. You never 'hear a good word
from them."
He paused to light his pipe and
the continued. "Old people are
just like trees, I think. It takes
the spring sunshine and warmth to
start the blood flowing. Two weeks
ago I looked out one morning and
there was snow on the ground. I
stayed in bed. I think I was a lit-
tle afraid to go out and face it.,
Two days later the first crocus
came up and since then I'm going
to beat the band. I've got this
garden all planned and I've start-
ed writing a book. I'll probably
have finish it, but I ha e a theory
that if old people keep looking
ahead, it's harder for death to
catch up to them."
,
•
i
I left the old man digging away
in the garden and I must say that
he started me thinking about a lot
of things. It struck me then, how
often younger folks spend their
time looking back and here was a
man of eighty-seven who lived by
looking ahead.
Just A Smile Or Two
Elmer, aged 13, Was puzzled over
the social problems and discussed
them with his pal, Mortimer.
"I have walked to school with
this dame three times," he told
Mortimer, "and I have carried her
books. I bought her ice cream
sodas twice. Now do you think I
oueht to kiss her?"
"Naw, you don't need to," said
Mortimer, after a moment of deep
concentration. "You've done en-
ough for that dame already."
"What kind of a fellow is Paul?"
"Well, the other night when he
was sitting in the parlor with his
girl, the Iights went out, and he
spent the rest of the evening tin-
kering with the muses."
•
A middle-aged woman fell out of
the window 'into a garbage can. A
Chinese who was passing shook his
head and said:
"Melicans velly wasteful. That
woman good for ten years yet."
•
Huron Federation of
Agriculture Farm News
_By Provinces, the total dollar
value of the principal field crops
produced in 1943 on Canadian
farms are: Saskatchewan, $397
million; •Ontario, $369 million; Al-
berta, 313 million; Manitoba. 215
million; Quebec, $190 million; New
Brunswick, $37 million; British
Columbia, $33 million; Nova. Sco-
tia, $23 million„ and Prince Edward
Island, $23 million—a total of $1,600
million.
Combines For U. S.
The Minister of Labor, Hon.
Humphrey Mitchell, has been in
touch with United States employ-
ment and farm labor ° M.iele in
connection with the possibility of
Canadian combines and operators
proceeding to the United States
this summer to assist in the har-
vesting of the grain crop.
United States officials state that
at the moment they are unable
to estimate whether Canadian com-
bines will be required this year.
They point out that the number
of local combines available is sub-
stantially greater than has been
the case in previous years and
that, unless some emergency aris-
es which cannot now be foreseen,
the need for Canadian combines is
not likely to be pressing.
Farm labor officials of the States
affected and officials of the Unit-
ed States Employment Service will
meet at Oklahoma City late in
April. A representative of the
Canadian Department of Labor
wi•11 be in attendance and the need
for Canadian combines and work-
ers will be finally established at
that meeting. In the meantime it
is inadvisable for Canadian farm-
ers who have combines, to antici-
pate a demand for their services
in the United States this year.
Most plants in a herbaceous bor-
der are lifted every third or fourth
year, divided and replanted. A few
plants such as Peonies. Gypsophil-
as and Phlox are best left undis-
turbed for as long as they continue
satisfactory as they do not re-
spond to root disturbance. But As-
ter, leis, Heleniums and most of
the other perennials do best with
periodic replanting.
Mixed Fertilizers Don't Harm Soil
Most farmers are convined, from
their own experience, of the value
of chemical fertilizers in maintain-
ing soil productivity and for in-
creasing crop yields. There are
still some who believe that chemi-
cal fertilizers are ruining our soils.
No one will suggest that organic
matter and humus are not import-
ant in our soils, says G. W, Mich-
ael, Fertilizer Specialist, Dominion
Department of Agriculture. To add
compost material to build up the
humus content of the soil ie all
expensive method, But humus can,
be put into the soil by 'ploughing'
down refuse crops, sods, green
manure crops and animal manures.
Humus improves the texture and
structure of the soil, regulates snit
temperature, serves as a source of
nitrogen and other plant foods,
increases the water -holding eapa-
city of the soil, prevents the top
0o1l Pram washing and blowing
away and stops the logs of Miner-
als in solution.
Milk's our near -perfect food ration
But safeguards are advised.
Lest there be contamination
11 should be pasteurized)
o(PARTMENT OF NATIONAL HEALTH AND WELFARE
Years Agone
Interesting Items Picked From
The Huron Expositor of Twen-
ty-five and Fifty Years Ago.
Seen in the County Papers
Plant 17,800 Trees Attend 'Banquet in London
Reforestation is being conduct- Messrs. Ulric Snell and Ra,y
e4 by Huron Fish and Game Club Frayne were in London 'Monday
on the club's property, concession • evening representing •Snell Bros. &
14, Goderich Township. W. A. G. Co., at a banquets for ' $aipertest
Thurston, Stratford, zone forester dealers, at the London Hotel. A
for Huron and Perth Counties, On- silver tray wasp presented to •Snell
tario Department of Lands and Bros. & Co. for twenty years as-
k orests, brought 17,800 young trees sociation with• the Supertest Com.
here and with the assistance of pany.—Exeter Times -Advocate,
President William E. Jervis and New Manager Of Unemployment
several members of the club, they Mr. John D. McLeod, of lV1i.nelsor,
were stored in the creek and arrived in Goderich last week to
grounds. The trees, which will be assume the position of manager of
planted next weeconsist of bard the Unemployment Insurance Com -
and soft week,
maple, white birch, white mission office here. The post was
ash, white elm, butternut, walnut, formerly held by the late E. H.
black cherry, spruce, cedar, white, Hill. Mr. McLeod started in with
red and Scotch pine. They came the Unemployment Insurance Com -
from •the government nursery at mission at London, Ont., in 1941
St. Williams. — Clinton News -Re- For the past year and a half he
cord. was in charge of the adjudicating
Accident North of Exeter office of the Commission at Wind -
Ari' accident took place TuesdaY sor. He plans to move his family
on the Main Street north of the from Windsor when he can secure
bridge. A truck belonging to the a house here. — Goderieh Signal -
Huron Lumber Company and driv- Star.
en by Ken Cudmore, was going C.P.R. Agent Retires
north followed by a car driven by George Waterfield, who has been
Mr. Wm. Sweitzer. Mr. Sweitzer Canadian Pacific agent at Goderich
pulled out to •pass the truck just for the past five years, has retired
as the driver of the truck turned from service after being with the
to make a stop on the left side of company for 37 years. He went to
the road. The Sweitzer car struck Goderich from Elora. His succes-
t'he back end of the truck and then sor has not been named.—Clinton
careened off the road and struck News -Record.
a hydrant. Both sides of the car Start Building New Home
were badly damaged. A board and Mr. Ivan Yungblut is off to a•
a couple of crosspieces were good start in erecting a new home
smashed on the truck. — Exeter next to Mr. Roy Lament's' home on
Times -Advocate. the lot he purchased from Mr. J.
Has Skull Fractured Brenner. The foundation work is
The condition of Earl Jenkins, ''being done by Mr. Stanlake, Grand
the 11 -year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Bend. We hope the Yuugblut tam -
Borden Jenkins, who was operated ily will be able to enjoy their new
on in Toronto General Hospital on home early in the fall, if not soon -
Monday, is considered satisfactory. er.—Zurich Herald.
Earl received a fractured skull and Resumes Sailing Duties
Mr. Ellwood Shortreed left on
' W,ednesday afternoon to resume
his duties as first mate on the
Great Lakes Freighter Lethbridge,
which has been tied up at Mont-
real during the winter. Ellwood
has been sailing since 1941.—Blyth
Standard.
Contract Let For Artificial Ice
Last Wednesday the local curl-
ers let the contract for the instal-
lation of artificial ice in their rink
to the Canadian.Ice Co. The con-
tract price is $14,200. Itis in the
curlers plans to tear down the old
club room, excavate a basement
the full width of the rink and build
a new club roont 46 feet by 16. The
refrigeration machinery, including
compressor, brine tank, brine
pumps and condensor will be hous-
ed in the basement. Mr. W. H.
Edwards is chairman of the build-
ing committee and is already mak-
ing •plans to get this building pro-
ject under way as soon as pos-
sible. Mr. Gordon MacKay as chair-
man of the installation committee,
has been active in ,scrutinizing
closely the contract made and wilt
Numerous friends called to visit maintain a watchful eye as the in -
them and offer their felicitations. stallation proceeds.—Wingham Ad-
-Exeter Times -Advocate. vance-Times.
From The Huron Expositor
April 18, 1924
Replies from persons regarding
the Old Boys' Reunion this• year
have been received from Wm. Ma-
loney, Ninette, Man.; Jas. Scott,
Edmonton; Jas. T. Dodds, Swift
'Current; Chas. L. Willis, QStett1er,
Alta.; 'Melvin Scott, Edmo'n{.on; H.
A. McIntosh, Cardale, Man., and
Miss Jessie Thompson, , Honolulu.
Dick Dawson, Detroit, has called a
bumper meeting for April 22, at
which representatives will be pre -
gent from Windsor, Ford, Walker-
ville and Sandwich.
On Wednesday evening a pleas-
ant surprise took place at the
home of Mr. and Mrs. John Wat-
ison, Walton. Mrs. Watson has been
organist in the Methodist Church
there for some time and the mem-
bers wished' to give her some tang-
ible proot of their appreciation of
her services and presented her with
a fernery and a purse of money.
Mr. Peter McKay, Tuckersmith,
recently sold from his well known
herd of Shorthorns an 8 -months -old
bull calf to Mr. Wm. Hoggarth, on
the llth concession:
Mr. A. G. Smith, of Fessenden,
N.D., was here attending the fun-
eral of his father-in-law, the late
Joseph Sproat.
The report of Egmondville
School for the month of April is
as follows: Sr. IV — Winnifred
Kruse, Alex Finnigan, Margaret
Ferguson, Frank Kling, Jeanette
Finnigan. Jr. III, Willie McDonald,
Raymond Nott and Mary Kling, eq-
ual, Glenn Hays, Margaret Strong,
Willie Miller and Frank Case, eq-
ual, Roy McGonigle, Sr. II — Bob
McDonald, Charlie Ferguson, Irene
Strong, Willie Dupee. Sr. I, Harold
Finnigan, Margaret Case, George
Kruse, Margaret Finnigan. Sr. Pr.,
Jessie and Margaret Smith, equal;
Vivian Townsend. Palmer Coombs,
Dorothy Davis. Jr. Primer, Mary
Case. Best spellers in order of
merit—William McDonald, Winni-
fred Kruse, Mary Kling, Bob Mc-
Donald, Alex Finnigan, Frank Case,
Margaret Strong, Glenn Hays.
Ross Scott and Andrew Beattie,
of London, motored up to Bruce -
field and spent the week -end at
Ross's home.
Mr. Lorne Hutchison of Toron-
to, spent Easter at the home of his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. D. Hutchi-
son.
Mr. Frank Coates, of Brussels,
is spending the holidays at the
home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
R. E. Coates.
Two things are necessary to
maintain soil fertility, organic
matter and plant food. and they
should be partners. Organic matter
can be maintained by good farm
practices of rotating crops, use of
manures, both green and animal,
and ploughing down crop residue.
The presence of organic muter
increases soil bacteria and fish -
worms which are beneficial to pro-
ductive soil. Since most crops re-
move more plant food than the
average farmer returns to the soil,
it is necessary in addition, to use
chemical fertilizers to supply the
plants requirements; thus produc-
ing more vigorous crops and -e-
turning more organic matter to the
soil in crop residue.
No experiments have ever rhos n
that the use of chemical fertiliz-
ers are in any way detrimental.
This is borne out by a 95 -year ex-
periment on wheat in .England,
where chemical fertilizers were us-
ed against manure. The plot re-
ceiving 1,392 pounds of complete
fertilizer annually, outyielded the
plot receiving an annual applica-
tion of 15.7 tons of manure. Dur-
ing the last five years, the fertil-
ized .plot outyielded the manured
plot by 4.4 bushels per acre. It
would not seem that this soil had
been poisoned after receiving
chemical fertilizer annually for 95
years.
In reviewing the facts, there is
no scientific evidence that the use
of chemical fertilizers causes and
deterioration of the soil, or has any
injurious effect on plant growth.
The pse of chemical fertilizers in-
creases yields, thus lowering pro-
duction coats. It makes poor land
good and should be employed to
make good land better.
DDT Not Harmful To Honeybees
Are sprays containing DDT for
control of inspect pests in fruit,
seed and vegetable growing areas,
injurious to honeybees? Beekeep-
ers in these areas sometimes ask
this question.
According to officials arthe Cen-
tral Experimental Farm, Ottawa,
the answer is—'no. And the offic-
ials have experimented constantly
since DDT became more generally
used as an insecticide some few
years ago.
They have used highly concen-
trated quantities of the chemical to.
spray fully open apple blossoms
while the bees were at work. The
force of the spray material even
drove the bees away temporarily,
but they returned before it was
dry and started collecting nectar
again,
The dead bees which had work-
ed the sprayed blossoms were sub-
jected to chemical analysis for the
presence of DDT. In only one
sampie was DDT found in suffi-
cient quantity to be even suspect-
ed. as 'the c2515e of death. And at
no tine was the death rate of adult
bees, or of brood, any higher than
that which occurred in a check
apiary.
The result of tliia quite drastic
experiment normally apple trees'
are not sprayed during the period
of open blriom — •proves beyond
doubt, officials say, tilt tinder
tiepins.) field conditions, MT is not
hatiEfui to honeybees;
•
From The Huron Expositor
April 28, 1899
The following well-known citi-
zens were ticketed out of town by
Wm. Somerville, uptown agent of
the Grand Trunk Railway, Tuesday
morning: James Crozier to Dauph-
in, Man.; Charles Hammett, to
Begot, Man.; David Hay to Glad-
stone, Man., and Jos. J. Fortune,
Tuckersmith, to Duluth, Minn.
Dr. Tweddle has disposed of his
dental practice here to Dr. R. R.
Ross.
Mr. James Dick, of town, sent
138 steers from here to his farm
in Colborne on Wednesday.
Mr. George Baldwin has dispos-
ed of 38 bicycles already this sea -
SOIL.
The contract for the erection of
a new parochial residence for
Father McCabe was let on Wednes-
day, the successful man being Mr.
Joseph Keating of town.
Mr. John Foote, has a kiln of
fresh burnt lime 'at his place at
Varna.
Mr. Neil Gillespie, Cromarty, is
making some improvements to the
frontage of his farm by erecting
a new fence.
Material for the' new Methodist
Church at Kl•ppen is now being laid
on the ground, and in a few weeks
building operations will be com-
menced.
Miss Lilly Herron, of Staffa, left
Tuesday for Moose Jaw, where she
has accepted a position. She will
be absent for two years. •
Mr. Wm. Logan, Hillsgreen, has
sold his farm to Mr. Jas. T. Turn-
er, his neighbor, for $5,600. The
farm contains 100 acres and adjoins
his' present farm.
Mr. David McIntosh, Brucefield,
veterinary surgeon, has rented his
farm, on the London Road, to a
couple of Tuckersmith gentlemen.
Dr. Re R. Ross, who has bought
Mr. Tweddle's dental practice in
town, has certainly to hiss credit
one of the most successful college
careers in the annals of the Royal
College of Dental Surgeons of On-
tario. After 15 years experience as
a public echool teacher hi the vi-
cinity of Dashevond and Blake, he
entered the College of Dental Sur-
geons in the 8esslon of 1896-97. At
the examinatioae' at the Close of
the term, he stood, fourth on the
list in it class of S.
other bruises on Saturday after-
noon. He had been given money to
purchase a cap and a short time
after leaving home returned and
collapsed after saying he had been
hurt. He was taken to the office
of Dr. W. A. McKibbon, who found
a large lump on the back of his
head, and immediately ordered him
to be taken home and put to .bed.
Later when his conditionbecame
worse he was taken to the Wing -
ham General Hospital where an X-
ray revealed a severe fracture of
the skull. Later that evening he
was removed by ambulance to To-
ronto.—.iingham Advance -Times.
Mark 50th Anniversary
Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Horne cele-
brated their fiftieth wedding anni-
versary on Tuesday on the same
farre,. on the eighth concession of
Usborne where they have lived all
these years. They were married
by the Rev. Geo. Jewett, of Elim-
ville Methodist Church, on April
12, 1899. The family consists of
,Mr. and Mrs. Freeman V. Horne
and three grandchildren. Mr. Horne
has been laid up for over a year.
The Nation And The
Family Farm
(By R. J. Deachman)
f
Every little while someone wakes
up from a sound sleep, tells us that
the family farm will soon be a thing
of the past, wants something done
about it. Why bilis sudden urge?
The change has been going on for
generations. Mechanization made
possible the large-sized farm. A
hundred years from now conversa-
tions will continue on the most ef-
ficient farm unit so far as size: is
concerned, but there will still be
small farms, large farms and very
large farms. Success is not deter-
mined by the size of the farm, but
by the ability of the man who rune
it.
In the old days, when I had time
to do it, I used to drive through
the rural areas in the different
provinces. I wanted to see what
was happening. There was a nice
little farm a few miles out of Ot-
tawa. It was run by a man who
was making a success on a farm
of approximately 60 acres. He was
a good farmer. He sold oats for
seed at $2 or $3 a bushel and
bought feed for his cows. at nor-
mal market prices. He specialized
in a high grade of milk. He raised
pure-bred stock. Everything around
that farm was smooth as a duck's
foot.
I happened to meet him at a cor-
ner store a short distance from his
farm. He was driving a new car.
I took a hard look at it. "Times
are looking up," I said. "Not par-
ticularly," he answered, "I get a
new one every year. It's amazing
what you can do in this, country if
you can find a hanker foolish en-
ough to lend you money." He
wasn't the type of man bank man-
agers worry about. He was bright
anyway you liked to take him; he
made money on a small farm.
Some years ago a farmer in
Western Ontario dropped me a lit-
tle note in answer to something I
had written in a farm paper. He
asked me to see him the next time
I was passing through his town. A
month or so later I availed myself
of the invitation. He was an elder-
ly man, quite vigorous, a Scot by
birth. He had farmed all his life
and liked it. He hadn't a. big farm
—she specialised in pure bred
sheep. I asked him where he sold
them. "Well," be said, "that's a
peculiar story. Some years ago a
man wrote me and said that he had
heard I was a breeder of pure bred
sheep and wanted me to send him
two ra.ms•. He lived in California.
I took a chance on it without know-
ing anything about him. From that
time my business grew and now I
ship, at good ,prices, all the sheep
I can produce mainly to the West-
ern States." There was a man who
was making a success' of a rela
ti'vely small farts. Re was spec-
atizing illi aparticular Sine,
The same ,thing exists in alinest
every area of Canada and will con-
tinue to exist. The higher the in-
telligence, the better the education,
the wider will be the variation in.
types of agriculture, in lines of
production and in methods employ-
ed. The modern farmer isnot tied
to the traditions of the past. He
has seen changes coming in his
business. He believes that change
is a continuing process and that
there is no definite rule which sets
the pattern for the farming of the
future.
Not ?Ong ago I was talking to a
business man who owns a farm and
likes farming. I asked him about
the labor problem. He was con-
vinced that it could be solved..
With modern machinery we could'
pay higher rates of wages to men
who were thoroughly efficient. SY
costs of building went down the
large farm could afford to provide
comfortable •houses for a nuinrbep
of workers in a closely grouped,
centrally heated unit, and while,
the average worker may not make•
as much—purely in terms of rcron-
ey, the cost of living is less, rent
would be at a minimum.
Price instability is one of,, the
problems of agriculture. Volume
of production is not readily adjust-
able to changes of •demandd. In the
depression years, volume of farm
production did not vary widely. In
lndustdy, when demand falls of.
production drops, prices tend to•
stabilize, but in agriculture the
farmer goes right on producing, re-
covery is slow. Yet over a period
of years, average prices of manu-
factured products• are not much
higher than farm products. It is
not alone the price level; it is
price instability which worries the
farmer. -
What of the future of these
farms, small and great? In one
sense the world is hungry — fay
rather that it lacks the capacity to
produce the things which might be
exchanged for food. It's a fluid
world. Men will move from the
farms to the cities—or vice versa.
if they can satisfy their 'desires
with less effort by so doing.
Beyond this lies the real prob-
lem of the future, a problem which
transcends all others. fi' after
World Wa.r I there could have been
some real guarantee of peace and
comparative freedom in exchange,
there would have been no limit: to
human progress. As it is we dive
in a desperately poor and hungry
world. There is a tremendous• de-
mand for food but inability to pay
for it. That means frequent at-
tempts to give pernla.nehce to pric-
es by sales' on long-range contracts.
These efforts are not solutions, not
even palliatives.. Give ug• peace—
world peace, without that we strug-
gle 4n darkness; see, only at odd
times, faint glimpses of the light .